Pneumatic container cleaning apparatus



July 7, 1953 J. c. RACILIO I 2,644,188

PNEUMATIC CONTAINER CLEAN'ING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26,1952' in M" INVENTQR.

y 1953 J. c. memo. 2,644,188 PNEUMATIC CONTAINER CLEANING APPARATUSFiled March 26, 1952'- I 4 Sheets-Shag: 2 I

INVENTbR. A k fafiep C Paul/f0 J. C. PAclLlO PNEUMATIC CONTAINERCLEANING APPARATUS I A l July 7, 1953 Filed March 26, 1952 INVENTQR.loss aha. Pacdz'o,

July 7, 1953 J. c. PACILIO PNEUMATIC CONTAINER CLEANING APPARATUS FiledMarch 26, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllilll llll. ill.

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Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC coN'rsnviiiiAPPARATUS Joseph 0. Pacilio, Cicero, 111., assignb to ,wilite CapCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application Mater 26,1952, seam; mm

This invention relates to apparatus for clean ing containers prior tofilling and to certain innovations and improvements therein.More-particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for pneumaticallyremoving dust, dirt and debris fromglass containers as they are conveyedto way into the glass containers prior to use typi-.

cally including such foreign objects as: pieces'of glass and metal,pieces of paper and corrugated paperboard, excelsior packing; paperclips, pieces of glue, etc. It is essential that such debris be removedfrom the containers prior to filling, and it is highly desirable to alsoremove dust and smaller particles of dirt which may be in thecontainerseven though the dust and fine dirt parare filled. The apparatus may alsobe used for similarly cl aning other types of containers, such as tincans and paperboard containers.

Sincethe filling and capping units are made adjustable so as to be ableto handle containers of various sizes including" variations in height,it is essential that the unit for cleaning" the con tainers be likewiseadjustable so asto also nan: dle containers of various heights.

lThe object or" the invention, generally stated,

is an apparatus for pneumatically cleaning glass and other containersconveyed in procession past the cleaning unit which is verticallyadjustable 8 Claims. (01. 15:-s04) ticles might not be noticed ordetected after they to accommodate containers of various heights 7 andwhich operates to completely free the con tainei's of any loose dirt,dust or debris that may be lodged therein and to simultaneously remove"such foreign matter away from the'containers so that it does not fallinto containers that-have" already been cleaned.

Further and additional objects or the" inven tion include the provisionof sucha unit or apparatus for pneumatically cleaning containers modatecontainers of variousheights conveyed 7 2v on the same conveyor; theunit is completely enclosed in a cabinet comprising an upper housingwhich fits telescopically over a lower hous-. ing; theunit includes anozzle for blowing a jet of air intothe' mouth of a container and asurrounding bonnet in which suction is created around the nozzle forwithdrawing and carrying away the dirt laden airforced out of the mouthsof the container by the air jet;'separate blower means are provided forsuch nozzle and suction bonnet; and, a hood is provided over such bonnetand' nozzle in which the blower for the noz:

ale is also located, said hood fitting over the conveyor so as to covernot only the particular container being cleaned but also the containersadjacentthereto.

Certain other objects or the invention will, i

part, be obvious and will, in part, appear herein-' after.

Fora more complete understanding of the nature and scope of theinvention, reference may now be had to' the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the ac'-' companying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a p'neumatic cleaning unitembodying the invention with a section of a conveyor and a series of containers mounted thereon and being shown in broken line in the proper:relationship to the unit;

Fig; 2 isa side view of the'cleaning unit shown in Fig; 1, the viewbeing partly in elevation and partly in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the unit" shown in Fig. 1 withthedoor being opened and a portion of the interior broken away;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the'cleaning unit? and Fig. 5 isairagmentary-vertical sectional view Theclaning unit is; indicatedgenerally at 5 inFig. 1. It comprises a stationary bottom p01;

tion indicated generallyat 6 and a vertically ad'-'v I justable:upperportion indicated generally at I; The upper section fl has a'hoodtfastened to the front side so as to fit over a conveyor H] which conveysthe. empty containers intothe fi1ling' and capping machines. H r gReferring t Figs. 2 and'S, itlwi ll be een that the stationary base orbottom portion 6 com prises a base plate li which is rectangular inshape and which is provided at each of thecor' ners withadjustable:floorengaglng lugs l2 l 2 A rectangular bottom frame I 3 is.secured underneath enema-it H with thevertical' flangethere extendswell up into an upper housing 40, the,-

bottom portion of which telescopically interfits with the upper portionof the lower housing I4. Corner braces i9l9 are provided at the top ofthe apron or housing 14 for adding strength and rigidity thereto.

The base plate i i supports a hollow column or post 38 which extends upto a level adjacent the upper end of the lower housing it; The column i8is welded into a hole provided therefor in the base plate H and isfurther braced and secured thereon by means of three gusset plates2fi--2!i.

A not 2! is welded or otherwise secured in the upper end of the columnit for cooperation with an elongated adjusting screw 22. The lower endof the screw 22 is externally threaded as shown for cooperation with thenut 2i and the upperend of. the screw. has a nut 23 integrally formedthereon which projects above the top of the upper. housing ii. A bearingring 2 3 is welded to the under side of the top of the housing ll asshown in Fig. 2 through which the upper end of the rod '22 passes. Athrust collar 25 is secured to the rod 22 intermediate its end and isfastened in position by means of a pin 28. The collar 25 serves toseparate the opposing races of a pair of ball bearings 27 and 28 fittingaround the rod 22.

The lower ball bearing 28 rests on a horizontal platform 35. which iswelded to the upper end of a sleeve iii which fits telescopically overthe column is. A U-shaped strap 32 having outwardly projecting feet 23is secured on top of the platform 313 and is provided with a centralopening in the upper side thereof for accommodating the rod 22'. Theupper bearing 27 engages the under side of the horizontal portion of-theU-shaped member 32 as shown.

The sleeve 3i may be somewhat larger than the column is and in order toprovide a smooth inter fit therewith which is free from play andtilting, the sleeve 3i is provided on the interior adjacent the bottomend thereof with two spaced apart sleeve bearings 33 and 34. It will beseen that when the rod 22 is turned by applying a wrench to the nut 23on the upper end thereof the rod necessarily is raised or lowereddepending upon the particular direction in which it is rotated. Themovement of the rod 22 in a venticaldirection carries with it theplatform 39 and the sleeve 312 which slides over the column 18. In orderto eliminate any angular twisting or rotation of the sleeve 3! relativeto the column I8, the sleeve 35' is provided adjacent its lower end witha bolt 35 (Fig. 2), the inner end of which has a reduced diameter whichpermits it to fit accurately with sufficient tolerance for smoothsliding action in an elongated vertical slot 35 provided in the side ofthe column l8. This arrangement prevents the sleeve 3i and the upperportion of the machine. carried thereby from rotating or twisting even asmall amount on the support base. Y

A floor member 37 having a downwardly turned side flange .38 is carriedby. the support platform 36. The vertically adjustable upper section 1of the unit 5 includes a housing ill which is connected to and supportedby the floor member 3?. The upper end of the housing 46 is enclosed by acover member 4| having an inwardly set bottom known type or othersuitable closing means for keeping it closed.

The hood 8 is secured to the front side of the housing to by a hinge orother suitable known means. The hood 8 is designed to extend Over aconveyor platform as shown in Fig. 1. A blower 46 driven by an attachedmotor 4? is disposed within the upper portion of the hood 3 with thedischarge connection 68 being connected with the rear or upper end of anair nozzle or jet 58. The nozzle 56 may be screwed into the outletconnection 123 and the flange 5| around the nozzle serves as a shoulderto fit against the under side of a central opening for the nozzleprovided in a bonnet 52. The inlet opening into the blower :18 isindicated at 53 which isprovided with a closure plate 5% which is heldin place by a screw as so that it may be held fully open as shown orpartly closed over the inlet 53 if it is desired to reduce the volume ofthe air blast delivered through the nozzle 53. The bottom edge of thehood 8 is provided in the opposite sides thereof with shallow notches orrecesses 55-55 (Fig. l) and the discharge or bottom end of the nozzle5:? is preferably positioned slightly above the upper edges of thenotches 55 so as to insure that any containers that will pass underneaththe hood 8 will also pass underneath the nozzle 5d. The bonnet whichsurrounds the nozzle 55 so as to form a suction chamber therearound hasan inwardly curved bottom lip or rim lit which is pro vided, withrecesses or notches 5? in the opposite sides thereof which register withthe correspond: ing recesses or notches 55 in the hood 8 andapproximately even therewith. The rim or lip 56 extends down slightlybelow the lower end of the nozzle so that the front and rear sides ofthe honnet 52 can project somewhat below the'upper edges of thecontainers being cleaned.

The bonnet 52 is sup-ported by welding or otherwise on the front orouter end of a horizontal due 5? which registers with an openingprovided therefor in the rear side of the bonnet 52.. The duct 57 passesthrough the front side wall of the housing it and is connected to thehousing by means of a fiat ring 53. The duct 57 projects rearwardlywithin the housing 48 into a collar 68 having an integrally formedflange 6! which is secured against the front side of a blower housing62. This housing is in part supported from the rear side by means of anupright support nor side wall of a filter chamber indicated at l5 s inFig. 3. A deflector plate or baffle 76 is attached tothe partitionmember it so as to extend down infront of the opening therein throughwhich the thimble 73 fits. The side wall of the upper housing 45opposite the panel 14 and defining the outer side wall of the filterchamber 15 is provided with apair of rectangular openings or windowsindicated at 11-41 in- Fig'. 1. On the interior a perforated metal plate18 is secured over the inside of the openings 11 and a replaceable typeair filter Bil is inserted against the perforated plate 1 3 and held inplace at the top by means or"- a spring clip member 8| which is securedto the interior of the housing as shown.

The operation of the cleaning" unit 5 is as follows: The upper section 1of the unit 5- is first adjusted by turning the rod 22 until the nozzleand bonnet 5'2 are-at a level so that theyproperly clear the mouths orupper ends or the containers tobe cleaned. The hood 8 maybe hinged tothe housing Gil so as to permit it to be swun open while this adjustmentis being made. The electric motors t1 and'BT arethen turned on so as tooperate the respective blowers, thereby creating a blast of airdischarging from the nozzle 50 and creatinga suction within the bonnet52-. While the nozzle 50 imparts some jet efiect to the air, thereshould be a large volume of air in the blast with adequate velocity asdistinguished from a pin-point jet of extremely high velocity. Whentheconveyor it is put into operation the containers thereon will besuccessively passed underneath the nozzle 5E). The tip opening or thenozzle 58 is of such a diameter that it is appreciably smaller than thediameters of the mouths of the containers; Any particular nozzle 50 may"be replaced by another nozzle of different size as required dependingupon the containers being cleaned. The high velocity air jet strikes thebottom or the container and then reverses it flow and the air streamrises column-wise around the downward' 1y directed jet. Actually", therewill be considerable turbulence Within the containers" as they arecleaned. All dust, dirt and debris are dislodged and carried out of thecontainer with the upstream which at the mouth of the container mergeswith the low pressure or suction created within the bonnet 52 so that aconstant stream of air is being withdrawn upwardly through the bottomofthe bonnet 52 and passes through the duct 51 into the inlet opening ofthe blower housing 62- from which it is discharged i'n'to the filterchamber 15. Theair passes down underneath the deflector or baffle latel6 and then is free to pass out'through the filter Bil and through theopenings 11. Dust and dirt collect in and on the inner face of thefilter 88 while larger particles of debris fall to the bottom of thefilter and are. periodically removed.

Because of the fact that the bonnet 52 and the nozzle 5e are locatedwithin the hood 3 and a separate blower is used to create suction forapplication to the bonnet 52, the general movement of air in the 'hoodis-upward, either into-the bonnet 52 or intothe'hood itself. Thus, oncethe dust and foreign particles are blown out of the container, the?" areimmediately re- 6 an'ee (if this relationship is self-fia-intalfiedi Tothis balanced relationship isadded the negative. pressure or suctioncreated in the bonnet 52.- Therefore, it will be' seen that the generalmove= ment 01 air Within the hood and Within the vicinity of the bottomthereof iS inwardly through the duct 5? so that none of the dust anddirt-laden Or contaminated air is discharged aroundthe hood 8 but, onthe contrary, it is 7 all collected andwithdrawn into the upper housing1 from which it is discharged through the openings 11 after having beenfiltered.

It will be seen that the'unit 5 is enclosed a cabinet even though theupperercent thereof is vertically adjustable Because or the streamlinedand smooth" surfaceconstruction" or" the housings of the cabinet, it iseasy to ma in tairi the exterior" clean and free flc'fn dirtand dust,thereby ccntrib uting to the uett riopen ationofthe cleaning unit 5&

Since certain changes design nature will be obvious and may be niadewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention', allmatter described above or shown in connection with the accompanyingdrawing is intended to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in alimiting'se'n-s'e What is claime'das new'is:

1. Apparatus for pneumatically cleaning aprocession of containers con veea open end up past the" same said apparatusb'eir ig verticallyadjustable to the height of the containers and" comprising, a stationarysupportbase,.- a v'erti caily' adjustable support platform; means for'ad justably' supporting? saidplatfcrm above: said base at variouslevels, a hood supp'or-t'ed open side" down and under Whichcontainersare adapted to be conveyed, a nozzle mounted in saidhcod with thedischarge end tnereor pointing down and approximately level with thebottom portions of said hood u'nder'which the containers pass so as tofit over the container mouths With enough clearance to avoid strikingthesame when said platform is adjusted to 'an-e1evationmoved and carriedawayand they are not free to fallinto containers which have already beencleaned on passage underneath the nozzle. This is an important featuresinceothe'rwise some of the dust, dirt and debris" dislodged from onecontainer might merelyhov'er in the air surrounding the cleaningdeviceand settle into containers that have already been cleaned;

In the over-all balancing ofthe pressure and suction forces it willb'e-s'een" that the discharge force of the nozzle 5i isbalancednecessarily by the intake suction intotheblower 4-6; The ba1whereat the containers can be pass'edun'der saida hood, a bonnetsurrounding saidnozzleso' asto form a suction chamber therea'roun'd andmbunt ed within said hood with the bottoln Opening thereof approximatelylevel with the bottom ofsalcl' hood; a blower the discharge" opening ofwhich is" connected to the inlet end of saidnoz'zle; a second blower theintake opening of which isconnected with said bonnet above said bottom"opening" therein-,- and means: for unitarily sup portingsaid -hood',nozzle, bonnet and blowers on said ve'rtic'ally' adjustable platform.

2 Apparatus for pneumatically cleaning a. procession o'f containersconveyed open end uppast'the same; said apparatus being vertically ad-ujustableto the height of the containers and-com prising;- a stationarysupport'b'ase} avertically: adjustable support platform, meansforadjust-" ably supporting saidplatfor 'm above saidbase at variouslevels} a hoo'd' supported: openrside down" and under which e'ontamers:are adapted' to beconveyeia nozzle nlo'unted ih s'ald hood Wlth'the'discharge end tnere'or pointing. dowh and: approximately level with the;bottom portions of said hood under: which the: containers passsoas a tofit over the" container mouths with enough" clearance to avoid strikingthe same when saidplatfor-m-is adjusted to' an'elevation whereat the:containers canbepassedunder said hood,. a-bon-' net surroundingsaidnozzle so asto forma' sue- -v or a detailed in said hood with the bottomopening thereof approximately level with the bottom of said hood,

a blower mounted'wholly within said hood and having the dischargeopening thereof connected to the inlet end of said nozzle, a secondblower disposed outside of said hood with the intake opening thereofconnected with said bonnet above said bottom opening therein, and meansfor unitarily supporting said hood, nozzle, bonnet and blowers on saidvertically adjustable platform.

3. Apparatus for pneumatically cleaning a procession of containersconveyed open end up past the same, said apparatus being verticallyadjustable according to the height of theoontainers and comprising, astationary horizontal support base, a vertically adjustable supportplatform, means for adjustably supporting said platform above said baseat various levels, a bottom housing supported from said stationary baseand enclosing the lower portion of said apparatus, an upper housingsupported by said adjustable platform enclosing the upper portion ofsaid apparatus and fitting telescopically over said lower housing, ahood which is open at the bottom attached to one side of said upperhousing and under which the containers are adapted to be conveyed, anozzle mounted in said hood with the discharge end thereof pointing downand approxi-:

mately level with the bottom portions of said hood under which thecontainers pass so as to fit over the mouths of, said containers to becleaned with enough clearance to avoid striking the same when saidplatform is adjusted to the correct elevation, a bonnet surrounding saidnozzle so as to form a suction chamber therearound and mounted withinsaid hood so that the bottom opening thereof is approximately level withthe bottom of said hood thereby fitting around the mouth of a containerpositioned under said nozzle, a blower mounted wholly within said hoodwith the discharge opening thereof connected to said nozzle fordelivering air thereinto, a second blower mounted in said upper housing,and duct means connecting said suction chamber with the intake openinginto said second blower, said upper housing having an opening thereinfor venting the discharge of said second blower.

4. Apparatus for pneumatically cleaning a procession of containersconveyed open end up past the same, said apparatus being verticallyadjust- I able according to the height of the containers and comprising,a stationary horizontal support base, a column supported on saidstationary base, a nut carried in said column, an elongated rod having ascrew on the lower end thereof passing through said nut and projectingdown into said column, a sleeve member fitting telescopically over saidcolumn, platform means supported on the upper end of said sleve, thrustbearing means interconnecting said platform and said elongated rod sothat said platform is carried up and down depending on which directionsaid rod is turned' in said screw, abottom housing supported'from saidstationary base and enclosing the'lower portion of said apparatus, anupper housing supported by said platform enclosing the upper portion ofsaid apparatus and fitting telescopically oversaid lower housing, a hoodopen at the bottom attached to one side of said upper housing and underwhichthe containers are adapted to be conveyed, anozzle mounted in saidhood with the discharge .end thereof pointing down and terminatingapproximately level with the bottom portions of said hood under whichthe containers pass so ,as to fit over the mouths of said containers tobe cleaned with enough clearance to avoid striking the same when saidplatform is' an opening therein for venting the discharge of said secondblower, said elongated rod projecting through the top of said upperhousing whereby it may be rotated to adjust the level of said platformand said upper housing.

5. The apparatus called for in claim 4 wherein said telescopicallyinterfitting sleeve member and column are locked against relativetwisting by means of projection means carried by one of these elementswhich projects into a vertical groove formed in the other.

6. The apparatus called for in claim 4 wherein said telescopicallyinterfitting sleeve member and column are locked against relativetwisting by means of an inwardly projecting bolt carried on said sleevemember the end of which fits slidably into a vertical slot formed insaid column.

7. The apparatus called for in claim 4 wherein there is substantialclearance between the interior of said sleeve member and the exterior ofsaid column, and said sleeve member is provided adjacent the lower endtherof with sleeve bear-;

ings which fit slidably over said column so as to prevent tilting ofsaid sleeve member thereon.

8. Apparatus for pneumatically cleaning a procession of containersconveyed open end up past the same, said apparatus being verticallyadjustable with respect to the level of the mouths of the containers tobe cleaned, comprising in combination, a stationary support base, ahollow vertical column supported on said base, a nut mounted in theupper end of said column, an elongated adjusting rod having screwthreads formed on the bottom end thereof forthreaded engagement withsaid nut, a sleeve member fitting telescopically over said column,platform and floor means carried on the upper end of said sleeve member,thrust bearing means interconnecting said platform and said elongatedrod whereby the latter is free to turn relative to the former therebyraising or lowering said platform depending upon the direction ofrotation of said rod in said stationary nut, a bottom housing supportedon said stationary base and enclosing the lower portion of saidapparatus up to approximately the level of the upper end of said column,an upper housing supported on said platform and floor means having askirt portion which depends below said floor means and fitstelescopically over said bottom housing, a hood open at the bottom andattached to one side of said upper housing above said floor means andunder which hood the containers to be cleaned are adapted to be passedfrom side to side, a nozzle vertically mounted in said hood with thebottom discharge end thereof terminating aproximately level with thebottom of said hood, a bonnet surrounding said nozzle so as to form asuction chamber therearound and mounted within said hood so that thebottom opening thereof is approximate- 9 7 1y level with the bottom ofsaid hood thereby permitting it to fit around the mouth of a containerlocated under said nozzle, a blower mounted wholly within the upperportion of said hood with the discharge outlet thereof connected withthe upper end of said nozzle, a second blower mounted wholly on saidfloor means within the upper housing, duct means interconnecting a sideopening in said bonnet with the inlet opening into said second blower, avertical 10 partition in said upper housing defining a filter chamber atone side thereof, second duct means communicating between the dischargeoutlet of said second blower and the interior of said filter chamber, awindow in one of the exterior walls 15 10 of said filter chamber, and anair filter fitting over the interior of said window so as to filter theair discharged therethrough, said elongated rod projecting through thetop wall of said upper housing whereby the same may be turned so as toadjust the level of said hood and upper housing from the exteriorthereof.

JOSEPH C. PACILIO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,0'73,746 Keller Mar. 16, 1937 2,250,238 Smith July 22, 1941

